Career
Kelly was named Commissioner Emeritus of the ECHL following the 1995-1996 season, after serving as Commissioner for the first eight seasons of the ECHL. The league playoff champions wins a trophy in named his honor, the Kelly Cup. Pat also coached the Colorado Rockies for two years in the late 1970s. Kelly celebrated his 50th season in hockey in 2002-2003 having begun his career with the Saint Catherine Teepees of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 1952.
He played professionally for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, the Trois Riveres Lions in the Quebec League, Troy Bruins of the International Hockey League and the Greensboro Generals of the Eastern Hockey League.
He helped Crowland capture the 1948-1949 Bantam B Championship of Ontario, beating Peterborough in the finals. He began his coaching career in the Eastern Hockey League, beginning with the Jersey Devils and later with the Clinton (New York) Comets from 1965-1973.
Kelly was inducted into the Roanoke Hall of Fame and the Sports Hall of Fame in his hometown of Welland, Ontario in 1998, and in March 2002 he became the first inductee into the Greensboro Hockey Hall of Fame when the Generals retired his uniform number (5). Pat also served as head coach Eastern Hockey League"s legendary Clinton Comets, and posted a 315–208–64 (wins-losses-ties) record over eight seasons.
During that period, in the 1967-1968 season, the Comets produced an awe-inspiring 57–5–10 record.
In 2008, he was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame.